One of my new year resolutions is to reduce my consumption of clothes, bags, shoes and other accessories.
If you check my personal instagram account @rubstar5000, you will notice that I have done a lot of unboxing. All my years of saving and being responsible was forgotten in 2020. I went ballistic with shopping as “there was nothing else to do.” Thank you Covid!
Twenty Twenty-One is a different year! Shopping and unboxing will be few and far between. I have lost my way in 2020 but now I am found again in 2021!
So why? Why am I consuming less?
1. Growing up, my grandparents have instilled upon me the value of taking care or respecting my belongings (ie ‘my shit’.) They would often say to take care of my toys because they are my parents blood, sweat and tears. Whoah! Imagine a 5-year old Ruby trying to process that information. This is a value I want to embrace and instill upon my children now. I want to set a good example.
2. Reducing my consumption also reduces my contribution to landfill and my carbon footprint. (Did you know there is a carbon footprint calculator? Click here.)
3. Put less value in material things and belongings. Less value on material things defining who I am and what I am about.
4. Save some money. It doesn’t hurt to save more money. I have always been a saver. Working for Pizza Hut at the age of 17, I suddenly understood what my grandparents meant by blood, sweat and tears. I still think they are over dramatic though.
My catalyst for a ‘better’ life
My father’s death was a devastation for the whole family. It was also the catalyst for a ‘better’ life. My loss catapulted me into mild depression of not feeling worthy. I devoured self-help books which includes how-to-get-rich titles. I wanted to ‘manifest.’ I went after a ‘corporate career’ cause that’s where the money is apparently. I don’t know why I did. Someone told me I could! Lots of money didn’t make me feel worthy. It just meant I have to pay a lot more tax.
It’s not how much you earn. It’s how much you save!
If you spend more than you earn (and according to Rich Dad, Poor Dad – a lot of people do)* then you are in the negative every month. Don’t feel bad about me, some days I did splurge on myself. Over the years, I have saved and invested. I am doing okay now. LoL
Why Thank You Global Financial Crisis
Also, buying a house in 2005/2006 (pre-GFC) on high interest through a greedy broker (which we were related to) taught me how to budget /manage my limited money very well.
So, there you have it folks! Less shopping and unboxing in 2021. More repurposing, reusing, and repairing. Let us see how I go.
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*My husband being a financial adviser can attest to this.
R + WEST 